only 34 percent of current IT executives actually hold degrees in computer science (CS) or a directly related field

, such as computer engineering. Rather, many of them hold degrees related to the work done by the company they work for, with a few holding certificates or have undergone some informal training in business or systems analysis. IT is a relatively young field, and there has been a great deal of back-and-forth on whether formal education in computer science – or any formal education at all – is necessary to succeed in the IT world. The next generation of IT executives will be digital natives, meaning that almost regardless of their educational backgrounds, they will have an edge over the last generation when it comes to understanding IT. They will find it easier to pick up skills in CS, and will feel at home doing so.

So why bother studying CS at all?

According to a recent survey from LookSharp, a service that matches job-seeking students to jobs, CS students enjoy some of the best prospects when it comes to landing a well-paying job at the end of a four-year degree. 61 percent of them can look forward to landing a full-time job within a year of graduation, compared to 45 percent of all graduating students – and they can also expect some of the highest pay. This allows them to be choosier about what internships and opportunities to pursue, giving CS majors some of the most freedom to shape their career how they want. 54 percent of them wouldn’t even consider taking a job in an industry that wasn’t their top choice, and only 32 percent would accept an internship after graduation to get started in an industry.

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About Waël Hassan:

Waël Hassan, PhD, is the founder of KI DESIGN MAGAZINE an online monthly magazine. In each issue we explore legislative and regulatory changes, new technologies, and the needs and challenges of data custodians provides insight into the development of our approaches to open data access strategies and models. It provides summaries, analyses, insights, and commentaries on business transformation in the areas of Governance, Risk & Compliance, Project & Portfolio Management, IT Strategy & Operations, and Technological Tool Management.